writing+ways+to+begin

Once Upon a Time.....YUK!

The beginning of your story is quite important. It will determine whether or not your reader will continue reading, wanting to know more; continue reading with eyes glossed over in boredom; or not continue reading at all. Pretty important, wouldn't you say?

Let's take a look at some great stories to see how they begin:

Angelo put down the net he was mending, pushed his red cap back off his forehead, and looked at Michelle. || The author starts with a __quote__, and follows up with an __action__. || This beginning immediately puts the main character into the setting. || (Using a speech written by Chief Seattle) || "How can you buy the sky?" || The author begins with a __question__. || The reader knows one cannot buy the sky, so we want to read on, to find out what the message of the story is. || It was the sea that Mafatu feared. || The author begins with a strong statement about the theme of the story. || The reader knows that the story will be about Mafatu's battle with his fear of the sea. ||
 * **Book** || **Author** || **Beginning** || **Technique** || **Result** ||
 * __Red Sails to Capri__, Newberry Honor Winner || Ann Weil || "Angelo! Angelo!, look! A boat!"
 * __Moby Dick__ || Herman Melville || Call me Ishmael. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. || The author starts with a __command__ to the reader, and follows up with a __thought__. || This beginning tells the reader a little about the character, the setting, and even what the story will be about in just two sentences! ||
 * __Jumanji__, Caldecott Medal Winner || Chris van Allsberg || "Now remember, " Mother said, "your father and I are bringing some guests by after the opera, so please keep the house neat." || The author starts with a __quote__. || The beginning serves to tell us a little about the plot of the story.....are these kids really going to be able to keep the house neat? ||
 * __Stuart Little__ || E.B. White || When Mrs. Frederick C. Little's second son was born, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse. || The author begins with a __action__ (noticing), instead of the statement ("he was"). || This beginning makes the reader curious - why was he so small that everybody noticed? Was everybody looking at him? Why? ||
 * __Her Seven Brothers__ || Paul Goble || Do you know what the birds and animals say? || The author begins with a __question__. || This is another effective technique to get the readers attention. ||
 * __Winnie-the-Pooh__ || A.A. Milne || Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. || The author begins with and __action__, including a __sound effect__. || The author has immediately put us in the scene. We can almost see the little boy dragging his teddy down the steps. The "bump, bump, bump", helps us visualize it, too. ||
 * __Brother Eagle, Sister Sky__ || Susan Jeffers
 * __Call it Courage__ || Armstrong Sperry || (After the introduction):